Italian bosses foresee negative growth in 2009

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ROME, Oct 11 (Internet): The Italian employers' association predicts negative growth for the country next year, its head said Saturday, down nearly one percentage point to minus 0.5 percent, ANSA news agency reported.
Emma Marcegaglia, speaking in Assisi, said, "We were optimistic and had predicted plus 0.4 per cent but now we have to revise our forecasts downward."
This is lower than the International Monetary Fund's prediction of minus 0.2 per cent for Italy's gross domestic product next year.
In September the Italian government revised its estimates downward to 0.1 per cent this year and 0.5 per cent in 2009, pointing to the global financial crisis.